Martin Desmond, assistant prosecutor

YOUNGSTOWN

An assistant Mahoning County prosecutor handling the case against 12 suspected members of a West Side gang said tips and complaints from residents in the Evanston Avenue area led to the investigation.

“Probably the biggest aid we have in cases like this is public involvement,” said Martin Desmond, the assistant prosecutor, referencing the investigation that led to the secret indictments last week against 12 suspected members of the E Block Gang, whose base of operations is Evanston Avenue on the lower West Side.

Law-enforcement agencies began rounding up the suspects Tuesday, and a superseding indictment against them was issued Thursday. Nine of the 12 suspects were arraigned Thursday in common pleas court, though all are in custody.

The mother of two of the gang suspects, Teffany Wilson, said she has talked to the U.S. Department of Justice about how she was treated when officers went to her Brockway Avenue home early Tuesday looking for her son Tawaun Gordon, 18. Another son, Tyrone Gordon, 19, also is accused of being in the gang.

Speaking outside the courthouse after arraignments, Wilson said police kicked in her door and told her there was a warrant for her arrest, then dragged her outside with no clothes on and handcuffed her. She had to wait for several minutes before they took the handcuffs off and said they would give her money to replace her door if she would tell them where her son was.

Wilson said she called Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally’s office, who referred her to the Justice Department. She said she is waiting to hear from them.

“The way they handled this was terrible,” Wilson said. “They degraded me in front of my neighbors.”

Wilson also said she has yet to see a copy of the warrant used to search her home.

“I told them if they would’ve knocked, I would’ve opened my door,” Wilson said.

All the members arraigned before Magistrate Dominic DeLaurentis entered pleas of not guilty and had May 30 pretrial hearing dates and June 21 trial dates set before Judge Lou D’Apolito.

Missing was Phillip Lemon, 26, who is in a federal prison; Roderick Wilson, 27, who is in state prison; and Derrick Franklin, 18, whose case is being handled in juvenile court because he was a juvenile when the crimes he is accused of committing occurred.

Added to the arraignments was 55-year-old Robert Blackshear, who was arrested in a McGuffey Road home when police were looking for one of the suspects.

Inside the home were several firearms, including assault weapons and a grenade launcher. He faces weapons charges and is not accused of being a member of the gang.

Four of the defendants face the felonious-assault and aggravated-robbery charges for the beating and robbery of a man outside a Mahoning Avenue bar in September 2013.

Wilson said she knows her sons “are not angels,” but they are not in a gang. She said her sons and their friends are people who have moved from other parts of town to the West Side and they just hang out together.

“This is a bunch of kids who became friends,” Wilson said. “They haven’t hurt anybody or killed anybody.”

As for her own sons, she said, “They’re not vicious like they’re saying.”

you have no right raising kids that grow up & then start destroying other peoples lives with drug dealing,intimidation & also destroying their neighborhoods.

why don't you move to Russia.... I'm sure they would protect your right to a fair trial.

be thankful that you live in America....

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Mrs. Wilson....the task force dont knock. Your just as guilty as your boys are. Your mad because you wont be getting any free dope or cash. Your meal tickets are locked up. Just friends hanging out with some powerful guns and dope. Okay if you say so. I moved from the westside to a far better and safer place. Good job YPD!

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Yes, police found assault weapons and a GRENADE LAUNCHER inside the home and POS Teffany Wilson believes that the police should have knocked before entering. I'm also sure it was not the first time she has been dragged around by men with no clothes on.

Here's the bottom line: 12 worthless thugs behind bars and all law enforcement officials safe to go home to their families.

Ding Dong,Avon calling to see if your son wants to be arrested for being in a gang,because hes to lazy to go out & live a life for himself.

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I can not believe that no one here has any sympathy for this poor momma,. Al, Jesse, dis momma done needs you. Momma is really gonna be wailing when one of her wonder little boys gets capped done the road. Guess there is some slim hope for the area after all.

You guys have me laughing so hard at these comments. I can't think of anything else to add other than she'll try & take it to the black federal judge Pearson who'll probably agree with her. Sad.

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The westside has been getting bad for a long time. I can't even speak ill of the westside without folks rushing out to defend it. Obviously it is no different than any other side of town, full of scum!

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I'm sure nobody was looking at your nakedness momma. They was looking at the spectacle I'm sure you made of yourself. If parents like yourself weren't more interested in the money and dope that finds its way to your personal needs than your children, none of this would have happened. I really don't believe you will have much of a case. Change or be forced to pay the consequences.

I like all the remarks directed towards the thugs mother but i'm betting two things.!.) She can't read2.) Her son has yet to steal her a computer to view these comments even if she could somehow read.

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This lady is funny. She is screaming POLICE BRUTALITY, right? Well, in my opinion, she got off easy because she had to know her thug sons were involved in criminal activities. She's lucky she didn't get locked up for aiding and abetting those thugs. Do all of us a favor....SHUT UP! And besides, when your naked butt got yanked up off the couch, believe me...the neighbors weren't gocking at you. They probably all turned their heads in shame because that booty was probably NOTHING to look at! Stare at it too long and they would've gone blind!